Rich Cohen: Funny?

It’s early yet, but we have a contender for funniest Post column of the year.

So Not FunnyRichard CohenThursday, May 4, 2006; Page A25

First, let me state my credentials: I am a funny guy. This is well known in certain circles, which is why, even back in elementary school, I was sometimes asked by the teacher to “say something funny” — as if the deed could be done on demand. This, anyway, is my standing for stating that Stephen Colbert was not funny at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

It’s a bit of a conundrum. Clearly, Rich Cohen reaches a level of unfunny previously attained only by Matt Cooper. But that makes this entire first graf brilliantly ironic, beating Colbert at his own game. If Cohen knew how delusional that graf was, the joke is untenable! Scientists call this the Milbank Paradox.